Sharks 14s drop first game to Marconi
In last week’s Premier Youth League there was a top of the table clash between Marconi Stallions and Sutherland Sharks under 14 teams. Both teams had been undefeated before the clash but Marconi ultimately prevailed to inflict the first loss on the Sharks by 2 nil.
Marconi’s under 15s continued their top of the table performance with a 2 nil win over the 8th placed Sharks. Middle of the table Marconi’s Stallions 18s were far too strong for the bottom team Sharks, winning by 3 – 1.
In a battle between lower placed teams, Marconi 16s had a convincing 4 – 1 win over the Sharks. Also in the 13s the Sharks had their second loss in a row to a top four team going down Marconi 3 nil. Marconi now tops the table in the grade, while Sutherland is third. Beijing’s Even Stevens
By Reece Carter.
If he wasn’t already, Australian swimmer Craig Stevens was launched into the international spotlight shortly after Ian Thorpe fell from the blocks during the Olympic qualifying for the 400m Freestyle in 2004.
Stevens finished second in the final to join Grant Hackett in the team for Athens and the sporting media went into a frenzy over Thorpe’s disqualification.
Unfortunately, the man at the centre of the controversy was Craig. The 27-year-old has been widely recognised since the day he gave up his spot on the Olympic team for fellow training partner and team mate Ian Thorpe. The unwanted media attention, non-stop phone calls and added pressure was undesirable in the lead up to his first Olympic Games.
Despite the uproar however, Stevens came away with a silver medal in the 4x200m Freestyle relay and proved to everyone, including the media, what he was capable of- not that it mattered.
“It was a tough time but we all got through it and things worked out well in the end. The media attention is much more pleasant now. I don’t get noticed too much and I don’t mind that. Seeing Ian Thorpe walk around with everyone pointing and staring, I feel sorry for him in a way.”
“I think I have already shown what I am capable of and it is never about proving anything to anyone else, the only people that matter to me are my family and my coach who help me everyday.”
Craig has qualified for the 400m and 1500m freestyle in Beijing. Having clocked the third-fastest time by an Australian in 1500m history (14min53.18sec) at the recent Olympic Trials in Sydney, you can see why his efforts and dedication earnt him a place in the Olympic Team for the second time.
“It felt great to go well under the 15 minute barrier. I only broke it for the first time last year and it has always been my ambition, so to swim that time was mind blowing, I never expected to swim that time.”
If Craig withstood the sort of pressure fired at him during 2004 and in the lead up to the Olympic Trials earlier this year, then he should find Beijing a comparative walk in the park. Just dive into the pool, swing your arms and flap those feet right?
Wrong. It isn’t that simple.
After 24 years of swimming and what he has been through, the elite swimmer still struggles to find comfort before a race.
“I still get really nervous. Before we walk out we have to meet in a room and get our name marked off, you usually try and have a chat with the other boys to take your mind of the pain you’re just about to experience, but once you’re behind the blocks it’s all business.”
“I don’t have any superstitions. I don’t listen to music, I just think about all the hard work I have put in and let things happen.”
And “hard work” it has been. Craig trains for about 30 hours a week. He starts his day at 5 o’clock in the morning; fighting off the freezing cold whilst completing multiple laps under the guidance of Coach Tracey Menzies.
“During training, you do go to the point where you are physically sick and it feels great. It just shows you what can happen if you work hard enough.”
Now that Thorpe has retired from the swimming world, Craig is arguably the most distinguished and admired member in his training squad at present. His enthusiasm and sheer presence alone is noticed well throughout the Shire’s swimming fraternity. Australian All Schools Champion and training partner, Erin Malone, believes Craig is one of her main inspirations in the water as well as on dry-land.
“As a training partner I see all the work he puts in. Everything he has, he gives. When he broke the 15 minute barrier for the first time at the World Champs last year he didn’t win a medal, I think he came seventh, but when you saw the camera on him when he finished you’d have thought he’d won the race after he achieved his goal of going under 15 minutes.”
“At training he does everything required of him, he’s always doing amazing sets and just really gives it his all and out of the water he’s the nicest person and so down to earth, he’s a pretty big inspiration to me,” Erin says with a smile.
Although of elite status, Craig too has his inspirations and idols that he holds in high regard.
“Someone like Dan Kowalski is someone I’ve always looked up to and Ian Thorpe as well has obviously taught me a lot, having trained together in the past… but in my own squad I take a major leadership role and try to be a good role model.
Come August this year, Craig won’t be a stranger to all the hype. He has been on the premier stage before and we all know that. Australia has witnessed his brilliance in and out of the pool before, doing his country proud. He has never given up and he never will. So the question remains, will the lead-up to Beijing be as daunting for Craig as the Athens Olympics in 2004 were?
“Not really, Athens was an eye opening experience and the Olympics is an event you just have no idea what it is like until you are actually there, but having done it before and knowing this time what to expect I should be able to handle it much better. My main goal for Beijing is to just enjoy it!” Bevan to give batting tips to cricket coaches and players
Cricket NSW will be conducting a Batting Seminar with former Australian and NSW batsman Michael Bevan at the Power Education SCG Indoor Centre Auditorium, from 6.30 to 8 pm on Wednesday 28th May.
This is a tremendous opportunity for all coaches and any aspiring batsmen to learn from the greatest one day batsman in the world in his prime.
Michael will be discussing the key factors that made him the No 1 ranked one day player in the world and how coaches and players can adopt some of his ideas to improve their skills. The new challenges associated with 20/20 batting will also be discussed.
Please click on the links below to download the information flyer and enrolment form. Further details are available from David Patterson on 02 9339 0905 or david.patterson@cricketnsw.com.au. Sharks to take on Comets in basketball
The Sutherland Sharks Waratah Australian Basketball teams take on the Sydney Comets next Saturday May 3. Both games will be at the Sutherland Basketball Stadium with the women’s match at 5pm and the men’s at 7pm.
Get into training for Sutherland to Surf.
This is another early warning to get fit for the major local fun run.
The Wanda SLSC Sutherland to Surf (sponsored by Brooks Fitness First) is the major community participatory event in the Shire and is recognised as the lead up race for the City to Surf. This year it is to be held on Sunday 28 July.
This great community event is held in July each year. The Sutherland to Surf event brings more than 5000 competitors to race, wheel or walk 11kms from Sutherland Entertainment Centre to Wanda Beach.
As part of the Sutherland to Surf, there is the Tradies Pro-Sprint category. This category comprises the first 100 fastest seeded competitors and attracts top class runners from the Australian Institute of Sport. The Tradies Pro-Sprint offers prize money to the first top four male and female competitors. The winners have gone on to be major place getters in the high profile Sun-Herald City to Surf.
For updates and entry details go to: www.wandasurfclub.com More Stories?
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